Exercising apparatus



March 11, 1924. 11,486,732

J. J. COOPER EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In I I 22 1/1 2a a 4 WITNESSES INVENTOR h W (/OHN d CO0PEE I BY ATTORNEYS J. J. COOPER EXERCISING APPARATUS March 11 Filed Sept. 24, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN (J Coo/Haze A TTORIVE Y8 Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT ormce.

JOHN J. COOPER, 0F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Y EXERCISING APPARATUS.

Application filed September a, 1921. Serial No. 502,941.

more especially designed to stimulate moun- ,vation of the same on the line 33 of Figurei2;

tain climbing of the person making use of 't with a view to induce the reduction of superfluous flesh particularly at the abdomen, hips and legs.

-Another object is to practically bring every muscle of the user simultaneously into action thus inducing a healthful action of the organs at the same time strengthening the muscles. I 7

Another object is to provide a new and improved exercising apparatus which is simple and durable in construction and one whichcan be readily set up in a gymnasium or in the home and without taking up much room. 2

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved exercising apparatus;

Figure 2 is a .front view ofv the same; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side ele- Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional front elevation of the resistance springs for one .of the treads;

Figure 5 is van enlarged sectional plan view of the tread slides and their guideways,

the sectionbeing on the line 5- 5 of Figure ,3;

Figure 6 isan enlarged side elevation of one of the treads and its outside slide and guideway; and

Figure 7 is a cross section of the same on the line 7-7 ofFigure 6.

The improved exercising apparatus :is mounted on a stand 10 comprisinga base 11 .Each of the connection 40 paratus and by the adjustibility of the collars 17 the crossbar or handle 15 and'springs 16 can be raised or lowered to suit the stature of the person making use of the apparatus at the time. On the crossbar 13 is secured by a clip 20 the upper portion of a double guideway 21 inclined at an angle of approximately 45 and attached at its lower end to an angle iron 22 fastened to a crossbar 23 attached to brackets 24 fastened to the floor a distance in front of the base 11, as

plainly shown in Figurel. Similar inclined guideways 25 are attached at their upper ends to brackets26 fastened on the standards 12 and the lower ends of the said guideways 25 are attached to a crossbar 23, and in order to give the desired rigidity to the structure braces 27connect the guideways 25 with the standards 12. On the guideways 21 and 25 are mounted to slide two pairs of slides 30, 31 carrying treads 32 and 33 disposed horizontallyand arranged one alongside the other for the user of the apparatus to stand on to move the treads alternately up or down with their slides 30 and 31 sliding on the guideways 21 and 25. treads'32, 33 is attached at its middle to a crossbar 34 mounted on the corresponding pair of slides 30, 31, and the ends of each tread are connected by brackets 35, 36 with crossbars 37, 38 forming part of the corresponding pair of slides 30, 31, as

will be readily understood Figures 1, 2, 3and 6.

The slides 30 are mounted to slide in the sides of the double guideway 21 and the upper ends of the slides 30 are connected with each other by a cable or other flexible passing around a pulley 41 42 journaled in a U-shaped by reference to having a shaft bearing 43 held adjustable on the upper end of the guideway 21 by a screw 44 so as to take up-any slack that may be in the cable 40. The lower ends of the slides 30 are connected with each other by a cable or similar flexible-connection 45 passing around a .er bearings 50 traveling on the corresponding guideways 21 and 25 (see Figures 5, 6 and 7). In order to give the desired resistance to the downward movement of the treads and 33 and to aid in the upward movement thereof use is made of spring devices alike in construction and each arranged as follows: On the rear end of the treads 32 and 33 is secured a forked bracket 60 slidingly engaging a rod Glsecured at its lower end on a crossbar 62 attached to the braces 27 (see Figure 1 The upper end of the rod'Gl is secured in a bracket 63 by a set screw 64: and the said bracket 63 is fastened to a bar 65 fastened to the upper end of the guideway 21. The bracket 60 bears on a cushion 66 held on a crosshead 67 (see Figure t) slidingly engaging the rod 61. On the crosshead 67 are secured the lower ends of two coil springs 70 secured at their upper ends on a crosshead Tlfastened by a set screw 72 to the rod 61 near the upper end thereof. A flexible limiting member 73 extends through each of the coil springs 70 and is attached at its ends to the crossheads 67 and 71 to limit the expansion movement of the springs 70, it being understood that normally the limiting members 73 are slack at the time the springs 70- are in their normal contracted vposition. It will be noticed that when the person steps on the tread 32 or 33 then the weight of the person causes the tread to slide downward against the resistance of the springs 70 stretched in the direction of their length by the brackets 60 engaging the crossheads 67 to which the lower ends of the springs 70 are secured. It will also be noticed that when the pressure on the tread 32 or 3 3'is relieved then the corresponding extended spring 70 moves the tread upward to return position. The springs 70 can be readily placed under more or less tension according to the weight of the person making use of the apparatus by correspondingly adjusting the crosshead 71 up or down on the corresponding rod '61.

In order to prevent the tread 32 or 33 from moving too far downward on a person mounting said tread prior to, beginning the exercise, temporary use is made of a cross bar 80 removably attached to the guideway 21 near the lower end thereof and projecting into the path of the treads 32 and 33. After the person has engaged the treads 32 and 33 with the feet then the bracket 80 is removed and the user now alternately bears down on the treads 32 and 33 the same as climbing a mountain, it being understood that. when the weight of the person is on one tread it moves downward while the other tread released of the weight moves upward owing to the connection of the slides 30 with each other, the upward movement of the tread 32 or 33 being aided by the correspondingly expanded pair of springs 70. 'From the foregoing it will be seen that a. person using the apparatus simulates mountain climbing which tends to induce a reduction of superfluous flesh particularly at the abdomen, hips and legs. It will also be noticed that as the user has hold with the hands on the handle 15 and works both treads 32, 33 every muscle in the body is practically brought into play to strengthen the muscles and to induce a healthful action of the organs.

The exercising apparatus is a very simple and durable in construction and can be used in a gymnasium or in the home.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An exerc1smg apparatus comprising treads arranged one alongside the other for a person to stand on to move the treads alternately in adownward direction, in

clined guideways for the treads to slide on up and down, and resistances connected with the treads to resist the downward movement of the treads and assist in the upward movement thereof.

2. An exercising apparatus comprising treads arranged one alongside theother for a person to stand on to move thetreads alternately in a downward direction, inclined guideways for the treads to slide on up and down, resistances connected with the treads to resist the downward movement of the treads and assist in the upward movement thereof, and a connection between the treads to'move one up on moving the other down by the weight of the user.

3. Anexercising apparatus comprising a stand proyided with inclined guideways, approximately horizontal treads mounted to slide on the said guideways, and connecting means connecting the treads with each other to move the one up onmoving the other down by the weight of the person treads mounted to slideon the said guideways, connecting means connecting the treads with each other to move the one up on moving the other down by the weight of the person standing with one foot on the downward moving tread, and resilient re: slsta-nce means connected with each tread to l the weight resist the downward movement thereof and to aid in the upward movement.

5. An exercising apparatus, comprising a stand provided with a handle adapted to be taken hold of by the user of the exercising machine, inclined guideways fixed on the stand, treads mounted to slide on the said guideways, springs connected with the said treads to offer resistance to the downward movement of the treads, pulleys journaled on the stand, and flexible connections passing around the said pulleys and connected with the said treads.

V 6. An exercising apparatus comprising a stand,having an overhead handle adapted to be grasped by the user of the apparatus, inclined guideways mounted on the said stand, treads disposed horizontally one alongside the other and mounted to slide on the said guideways, a connection connecting the treads with each other to slide one tread up on moving the other down by of the user standing on this tread with one foot and relieving the other tread of the users weight by raising the other foot, and resistance-springs engaged by the said treads to resist thedownward movement thereof and to aid in the upward movement.

7. An exercising apparatus, comprising a stand having an overhead handle adapted to be grasped by the user of the apparatus, inclined guideways mounted on the said stand, treads disposed horizontally one alon side the other and mounted to slide on the said guideways, ai connection connecting the treads with each other to slide one tread up on moving the other down by the weight of the user standing on this tread with one foot and relieving the other tread of the users weight by raising the other foot, resistance springs engaged by the said treads to resist the downward movement thereof and to aid in the upward movement, and limiting means limiting the expansion of the said springs.

8. An exercising apparatus, comprising a stand provided with a spring-supported handle mounted to slide" up and down and adapted to be taken hold of by the user of the exercising machine. inclined guideways fixed on the stand. treads mounted to slide on the said guideways, and connecting means connecting the treads with each other to move one up on moving the other down by the weight of the person standing with one foot on the downward moving tread and having hold of the said handle.

9. An exercising apparatus to simulate mountain climbing, the same comprising a fixed incline, and treads upon which the user of the apparatus may stand, said treads mounted for movement along the incline and disposed in planes at an obtuse angle to the plane of the incline.

10. An exercising apparatus to simulate mountain climbing, the same comprising a fixed incline, and treads upon which the user of the apparatus may stand, said treads mounted for movement along the incline and disposed in planes at an obtuse angle to the plane of the incline; together with means to cause one tread to move upwardly as the other is forced downwardly.

JOHN J. COOPER. 

